Suitcase



M. MEDOFF May 9, 1944.

SUITCASE Filed nec. 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 M. MEDOFF SUITCASE Filed Deo.

May 9, 1944.

Miara-rm .z l

INVENTOR. Meyer Mec/off BY Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED` STATES TENT OFFICE sUrrcAsE Meyer Medoif, Lambertville, N. J. Application December 29, 19422, Serial No. 470,431

(o1. 19o-4s) 1 Claim.

My invention relates to valiseasuitcases, bags and the like', and more particularly, relates to a closure construction for the same.

In the construction of suitcases and the like, it has heretofore been customary to use a metallic stiffener in the engageable rims or edges of the pivotably separable sides. In order to com serve metals it is desirable that non-strategic materials be substituted for metallic construction wherever possible. Ordinarily, such substitutions are at the expense of efectivness, durability and expensiveness.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a suitcase of non-strategic materials in which these shortcomings are eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to produce a suitcase having non-metallic stiffeners in the engagea/ble rims.

A further object of my invention is to provide a suitcase having composite wood and fiber stiffeners in the engageable rims.

Still another object of my invention is to produce an inexpensive suitcase of non-strategic materials having maximum effectiveness, durability and simplicity of construction.

With thesel and other objects in View which will become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention comprises a suitcase of brous material having two pivotably separable sides with edges arranged for partially-overlapping engagement and said edges having primary stieners of wood and auxiliary stiieners of liber, theA fiber stiffeners being positioned in lapping rclation when the suitcase is closed.

The invention, both as to details of construction and combination of parts will best be understood from the following description of a speciiic embodiment which I illustrate as an example, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the suitcase of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the edge construction of the bottom side ofthe suit- Case of Fig. l before forming a corner.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 after forming the corner. n y

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary plan View of the stiiener assembly of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary perspective View of the corner stiener assembly for the bottom side of my suitcase.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 0f Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the edge construction of the top side of the suitcase of Fig. 1 showing the relation of parts before forming a corner.

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary plan view of the stiiiener assembly of Fig. 7 after forming the corner and adding the corner stiiener.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentaiy'sectional view showing the relation of parts in the edges of the top and bottom sides when the suitcase is closed and the edges are in engagement.

Referring now to the drawings, I have in Fig. 1 an embodiment of my invention in which a suitcase A is composed essentially of a top side B and a bottom side C pivotally attached together along a longitudinal axis mediately of the lower surface of the closed suitcase shown in the figure. The bottom side C is shown provided with a rim D which is a covered stiiener assembly comprising a wood stiiener I2 of rectangular section, to which is attached at on the outside surface and flush with the outer edge a strip I4 of fiber or wood or the like flexible material, by means of split rivets I6. An edge covering I8 of leather or leather simulating material is folded to fit snugly over the stifiener assembly and is cemented or glued thereto. The suitcase outer covering 20 which may be of leather or leather simulating material or the like is secured by a row of stitching 22 to the outside of the rim D,

the covering 20 terminating at the strip I4 and the stitches 22 being relatively near to the end of the covering 20.

The corners are constructed by leaving a space 24 approximately 3A inch wide between the front and the two side components of the wood stiener l2, the ber stiffener I4 being continuous across space 24 as shown in Fig. 2. The two side components of the stifener I2 are then bent at right angles to the front component as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the ber stiffener I4 taking on an edgewise curvature.

A curved edge stiiener `25 is inserted in the corner comprised by the space 24, as shown in Fig. 5, to build up and reinforce the corner. The

" coverings 53 and 2l) and the row of stitching 22 approximately 1A; inch instead of being flush With the outer edge of the stiener as in the case of the strip I4.

This construction results in a strong resilient and relatively rigid casing requiring a minimum of machining operations in its manufacture.

When the top and bottom sides of the suitcase are closed together, a tight-fitting closure is formed with the engaging edges having contact surfaces of L-shaped transverse section as illustrated in Fig. 10.

Though the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended;` f as illustrative rather than limiting, as numerous. Y

In a suitcase of generally rectangular shapev having a top side and a bottom side pivotably attached so that their rims are 'engageable a exible outer covering on each side, a stilTener assembly in each rim, and a rim covering on each rim adhesively attached thereto, said stiffener assembly comprising a primary Wood stiffener of rectangular transverse shape continuous along the straight portions of the rim and interrupted short of the rim corners, an auxiliary flat strip ber stiffener attached to said primary stifener but continuing around said corners, and a supplementary corner stiiener of curved fiber in each corner, the auxiliary stiffener for the bottom side rim being iiush With the outer edge of its associated primary stiiener and the auxiliary stiiener for the top side rim extending beyond the outer edge of its associated primary stifener,

'whereby in engaged position the contacting surfaces of the two rims have an L-shaped transverse sectional shape, and said outer coverings beingsewed to and positioned atwise on the covered primary stiieners and abutting the covered auxiliary stifleners.

MEYER MEDOFF. 

